Today’s employer advice is from Pablo Pineda, Chief Resources Officer at River Partners.
Q: Tell us about your organization.
Two decades ago, a pair of conservation-minded California farmers had a path-breaking realization: farmers and ecologists could work together to regenerate riparian forests.
River Partners pioneered the use of agricultural techniques combined with ecological science to re-introduce critical habitat in California on a scale not undertaken by any other organization. Our practices establish self-sustaining forests from seeds in just three years.
Repairing some of the most threatened ecology in the state creates a lifeline for fragile species, and a valuable flood-control alternative to levees and dams.
Our work allows riparian areas the full breadth of their natural purpose: nurseries for young salmon, rich habitat for birds, mammals and pollinators, a buffer zone for floodwaters, and a place for people to reconnect with the natural world. Our experience in the field and close connections with communities have taught us that restored floodplains can also provide much more.
River Partners connects a bold vision of bringing life back to rivers with the hard, detailed work of rebuilding wild places, creating homes for wildlife, and improving our landscapes for the benefit of future generations.
River Partners envisions interconnected, thriving floodplains that sustain abundant wildlife, support productive farmland, preserve freshwater resources, enhance surrounding communities, and serve as the first line of ecological defense in a changing climate. Our mission is to bring life back to rivers by creating wildlife habitat for the benefit of people and the environment.
Q: What advice would you give to people in midlife who want to transition to a green job?
Always follow your passion, look for the opportunities and always be ready to reinvent yourself. Green jobs have a great outlook and this industry needs people who are committed to make a change, who have the integrity, are resilient and not afraid to face the challenges presented to them.
Q: What are the skills that you believe will be required most in the short-medium term in your industry?
We need people who love the environment that believe in a green future and leaving a better natural environment for the generation that is behind us. We need people who have experience in the farming industry, scientists, grant writers, and strong leaders who are committed to create a better tomorrow.